Wise fence machine



(No ModeL) 5 Sheets-Sheet, 1. J. PISK.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

Patented June 16-, 1885.

(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 2. J. FISK.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

No. 320,121. 3 Eatented June 16, 1885.

A? fl A I! 0 P i Z Z i- 5' l U" n EJE 15% m w I i Z I w n! WITNESSES'fl I ATTORNEY (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. FISK.

i, WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

No. 320,121. Patented June 16, 1885.

WITNESSES: I 1

l/Wc/ ATTORNEY (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. PISK.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE. No. 320,121. Patented June 16, 1885.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY N. PETERS. Pnwwmwn m. Wuhlngton, o c.

5 SheetsSheet 5.

(No Model.)

J. FISK.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

No. 320,121. Patented June 16,1885.

ATTORNEY N rams Photo-Wampum. Washington. a a

UNTTnn STATES PATENT @Tmcie.

JAMES FISK, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANCIS A. EVERETT, OF SAME PLACE.

WI RE-FENCE MACHINE.

EEJPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,121, dated June 16,1885.

Application filed December 1, 1884. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES FIsK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in VVireFence Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of that class of wirefence machines in which a fence is made of slats or pickets woven together by wires; and the improvements are based upon machines similar to those described in Letters Patent No. 266,072, granted October 17, 1882, to Joseph Ash, and No. 288,913,'granted November 20, 1883, to Joseph Ash and James Fisk.

' The main features of the machine described in these Letters Patent I still retain, and the improvements consist, first, in mechanism for releasing the tension; second, in mechanism for releasing the tension and operating the shuttle simultaneously; third, in operating the winding-on drum simultaneously with the tension-release and the shuttle and for regulating the same; fourth, in the mechanism for regulating the rotation of the spindle-operating shaft; fifth, in the construction of the shuttle; sixth, in a slat or picket spacing device; seventh, in improved tension devices, and, eighth, in an improved wire-twisting spindle.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a wire-fence machine provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a diagram view illustrating the simultaneous operation of the tension-release, shuttle, and wire-holding reel. Fig. 4 is a front view of one of the tension devices detached. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of one of the tension-plates. Fig. 6 is a front view of the shuttle. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the mechanism for regulating the rotation of the spin die-rotating shaft. Fig. 8 is a similar view of a second mechanism for accomplishing the same purpose. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the wire-holding reels. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of the tension-bar. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of the spacing mechana front view, and Fig. 15 is a rear view, of the v same.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The machine is shown as adapted to make a fence having the slats woven by five double strands of wire, and the different parts will be described accordingly, although any other number of strands might be used. On one end of asuitable framework the wire-holding reels A A-one for each separate wireare mounted so as to rotate independently of each other. The wires then pass in pairs through tension devices B B and through twisting-spindles C C, which are rotated simultaneously from a common shaft, D. The spindles G G can be rotated from the shaft D either by cords or wires, as shown in Letters Patent No. 288,913, or by suitable gearing. A swinging shuttleframe, E, is then swung up close to the spindles, a slat is inserted between the two wires of each strand, the shuttle-frame is then swung back again, pressing the slat tightly against the previously-twisted wires,and then the spindles are rotated to twist the wire, and, finally, the completed fence is wound upon a drum, F. This is the general operation of the machine,and is the same as that described in the Letters Patcut above mentioned. In these patents after the tension devices are once set the tension on the wires is the same during all the opera tions of the machine. The object of the tension is to hold the wires taut between the tension devices and the completed fencing,which is held on the winding-drum while they are being twisted. \Vhen the wires 'are not being twisted, there is no necessity for the full tension, and the tension is a positive disadvantage when the completed fence is being wound upon the drum.

To release the tension while the completed fence is being wound on the drum is one of the objects of this invention. This is accomplished by mounting the separate tension devices on a sliding bar, G, which slides back and forth in guides or ways a a, formed on the frame-work. hen the spindles are being rotated and the greatest tension is desired, the tension-bar is moved to its most rearward position, as shown in Fig. 2, and when the drum is being wound and no tension is required it is moved to its extreme forward position, as shown/in Fig. 3, thus slacking the wires. This releasing of the tension is accomplished without disturbing the initial and normal tension given by the separate tension devices B B.

My next improvement relates to the simultaneous operation of the tension bar, the shuttle, and the winding-drum. In order to operate the tension-barand the winding-drum simultaneously,and not interfere with therelease of the tension at the proper time,it is essential that the drum should be turned as the tension-bar is being moved forward; and as accomplish this is as follows: A cross-shaft,

H, is mounted on the frame-work, to one end of which is secured a lever, I, by moving which the shaft is turned. Secured to the shaft are two arms, J J, extending upward. Horizontal connecting-rods b b, pivoted at one endto these arms, respectively, are pivoted at their opposite ends to upright leversK K, which are pivoted at c c to the frame-work ofthe machine. The upper ends of these levers are in approximately the same horizontal plane as the tension-bar G, to which they are connected by connecting-rods d d, pivoted or hinged both to the levers .K K and the bar G. Below the pivotal points a c of the levers KK are pivoted connecting-rods L L, which at their other ends are pivoted to the shuttle-frame E, which is preferably hinged at its lower end to the frame-work. The shaft of the drum F carries on one end a ratchet-wheel, M, secured thereto, and loosely hung on the shaft is a lever, N. Pivoted to this lever is a pawl, e, which is normally held in engagement with the ratchet-wheel M by means of the weight of an end, f, extending beyond its pivotal point. A rod, 0, connects the lower end of the lever N directly with the hand-lever I.

The operation is as follows: When the lever I is moved forward in the direction of the arrow 1, thelower end of theleverNis moved in the same direction, thus carrying the pawl e in that direction;' but without turning the ratchet-wheel M, whose teeth are set in the opposite direction. The same movement of the lever I movesthe arms J J, the lower ends of the levers K K, and the connectingrods L L in the same forward direction, as indited by the arrows 1 1, thus swinging-forward the shuttle-frame against the slat and forcing it against the twisted wires. The upper ends of the levers K K are moved inthe opposite plane.

easily and quickly.

.direction, as indicated by the arrow 1, thus carrying the tension-bar G backward and applying the tension. A movement of the lever I in the opposite direction, as indicated by the arrow 2, moves all of these parts in the opposite direction, asindicated by the several arrows 2 2, thus moving the lever N backward and turning the drum G, the pawl 6 now engaging with the teeth of the ratchetwheel M and winding the fence. The tensionbar is at the same time moved forward, thus releasing the tension, and the. shuttle-frame is moved backward to permit the insertion of another slat between the wires. A second pawl, g, pivoted to the frame-work, engages with the ratchet M and prevents the drum F turning backward. The extent of the move ment ofthe tension-bar Gis regulated by means of the arms JJ, provided with slots h h, and the ends of the connecting-rods b b, which are secured in any position in these slots. The farther away from the shaft the rods 1) b are secured the greater the extent of movement of the tension-bar. By the same adjustment the extent of the movement of the shuttle-frame is regulated. The relative position of the shuttleframe between the spindles and the slats is regulated by meansof slots 13 z in the ends of the connectingrods L L. As the amount of the completed fence on the drum is constantly increasing, thus increasing the diameter of the drum, a less and less rotation of the drum is desired. To accomplish this, the end of the rod 0 is adjustable vertically on the leverI by means of a series of adjusting holes, mm. A slot might be substituted in place of the holes, and a series of holes might be substituted for the slots in the arms J J and the rods L L.

My next improvement relates tothe mechanism for rotating the spindle-rotating shaft, so that the number of twists given to the wires each time shall be uniform. In Letters Patent No. 288,913 mechanism is shown for accomplishing this, but the mechanism there shown does not rotate the shaftin such manner as to leaves the spindle always set in the same position. It is very desirable that aftereach twisting of the wires the forked ends of the several Spin dles should be always left in the same vertical upper and lower wires occupy the same relative position as the warp and woof threads of a loom during the throw of the shuttle, and the slats may be inserted between the wires In machines of this class where no provision is made for accomplishing this result the several wires are left in various different positions, and the passing of the slats between them becomes a laborious and tedious matter. In order to accomplish this result, the number of the rotations of the spindles should be an integral multiple of the number of the rotations of the shaft, and the shaft D should be rotated either an integral number of times or any exact half-time in ad- When the spindles are thus left, they ICC dition. I- have shown two mechanisms for ac complishing this. By the first the shaft is rotated one and one-half time, and by the other two whole times. Both of these mechanisms may be employed on the same machine by placing them on opposite sides of the machine, and one or the other may be used,according to the amount of twist which is desired for different styles of fencing. The first mechanism is shown in Fig. 7 in detail. Two upright pieces, P P, are pivoted to the frame-work on each side of the shaft D. These are connected together by a bar, it, pivoted at both ends. Each of these uprights PP is provided with a hookeatch, 0, beveled at its upper end. Extending out from the shaft D is a pin, Q. The distance between the points of the two catches is slightly less than the diameter of the circle described by the end of the pin Q. The pin being engaged by one of the catches 0,as shown, cannot be turned in the direction indicated by the arrow 3, and the shaft, accordingly, must be turned in the direction of the arrow 4. The point of the pin Q describes the circle indicated by the dotted line. On its first rotation it just misses the other catch, and on com pleting the first rotation it strikes the beveled upper end of the first catch and throws both arms P P in the direction of the arrow 5. \Vhen, now, the pin Q completes the next halfrotation, it is stopped by the second catch 0, which has been thrown forward sufficient to intercept its path. This completes the twist of the wires in that direction, and when the next slat is in position the shaft D must be turned in the opposite direction. The rota tion each time is exactly one and ahalf times. Stops p p are placed in the frame to prevent the arms P P being thrown too far.

The mechanism for rotating the shaft D through two complete rotations is shown in Fig. 8. This consists of a V-shaped plate, R, having two upwardly-extending arms, rr, and pivoted to the frame directly beneath the shaft D, which in this case is also provided with a pin, Q. The plate B being in the position shown, the pin Q is stopped from rotating in the direction indicated by the arrows 7 by means of one arm 0', the further turning of the plate Bin that direction being prevented by one of two stops, 3) p, on the framework. The shaft must therefore be rotated in the opposite direction, indicated by the arrow 6. On completing the first rotation the pin Q strikes the opposite side of the arm r and turns the plate R in that direction until the first arm is out of the way. The same turning elevates the other arm 1-, which intercepts the pin Q, when it completes its second complete rotation.

The next feature consists in an improved shuttle-plate, S. This plate has a vertical slot, 5, which is enlarged at the center, forming a circular aperture, t, in which the wires cross while being twisted.

By the previously-described mechanism for rotating the spindles they are always left after each twisting of the wires with their arms vertical, so that the wires always extend through the slots 8 s in a vertical plane, thus permitting the shuttle-frame to be easily swung back for the insertion of the next slat. Before a rotating mechanism was adopted which should always leave the arms of the spindles in a vertical plane it was necessary that the shuttle should be composed of hinged leaves, as shown in Letters Patent No. 266,072; but by the adoption of the limiting rotating mechanism just described the simple shuttleplate, as shown, can be employed.

One difficulty which has hitherto been eX- perienced in the manufacture of this kind of fence is that the slats in the completed fence have not been parallel with each other, the result being a badly-appearing fence. This difficulty has been caused by the slats not being held squarely against the previously twisted wires while the twist is being made on the other side. To overcome this difficulty the following device has been adopted: A crossbar, T, is secured to the frame-work directly under where the slats are to be held while the wires are being twisted. To this bar, or to guide a on the bar, a number of hooked arms, U U, are pivoted. These arms should correspond in number to the spaces between the strands of wire. The hooks o 'l) on the arms are provided with beveled faces toward the shuttle. Coiled springs 10 w are provided beneath the arms U U, which hold them normally in an elevated position. WVhen aslat is inserted between the wires, the shuttle-frame presses the slat againstthe beveled faces of the hooks or catches c 1;, thus depressing'them until the slut passes entirely over the catches,when the springs to to raise the catches to their normal position. It frequently happens that when a slat is pushed over the catches U c the slat is carried beyond the catches, and if there was nothing to correct this the purpose of the catches would be defeated; but the same movement of the lever which moves the shuttleframe so as to push the slat over the catches simultaneously increases the tensoin of the wires,whichincrease of tension brings theslat back squarely and firmly against the catch,

thus insuring its parallelism with the other slats. This, however, requires a slight backward movement of the windingon drum F, which the pawl g prevents. To permit this backward movement, the pawl g is what may he called a spring-pawl. It is pivoted to the horizontal arm 00 of a lever, v ,whieh is pivoted to the frame-work. To this arm 00 is attached one end of a coiled spring, 2', the other end of which is attached to the frame-work. The arrangement, while not interfering with the action of the pawl with the ratchet-wheel M,allows the ratchet-wheel a slight backward movement sufficient for the purpose specified. Between the bar T and the winding-011 drum F a cross-roller, V, is mounted on the frame work, over which the fence passes to the drum F. This roller is provided with a series of through the top bar of the standard, pressv wide grooves, a a, over which the strands of wire pass, thus rendering the passage of the fencing smooth and easy.

The next feature of this invention consists inimproved tension devices, There are as many of these as there are strands of wire, andthey are located onthe sliding bar G.

Each tension device consists of a standard,W,

two tension-plates, X Xone for each wire of the strandand two screws, Y Y, which pass against thetension-plates,and thus are adapted to regulate the tension. Each tension-plate is provided with opposite grooves, 12 b,which slide along the side pieces, 0 c, of the standard, and a centralvertical part, Z, formed on the bottom plate of the standard. Each tension-plate is formed with a groove, d, extending across its bottom, and the bottom plate of the standard is provided with a corresponding groove, 6, in which grooves d and e the wire is held.

In order that the wire-holding reels may be refilled, each reel A is provided with a projection, f,which is formed with a square hole,

.g', in which is inserted the square end ofa crank by which the reel may be turned and wire wound thereon. turn on one side of the machine and filled.

In order to do this, each reel is held in its bearing by a removable pin, h, the projection f constituting on one side the shaft of the reel.

. In Figs. 13, 14, and 15 is shown an improved wire-twisting spindle. The spindle 0 comprises a body-portion, i, and an enlarged front portion, j. The rear end is provided with a removable cap, K, which has two apertures,

enter the spindle.

ZxZ, near together, through which the wires The wires pass through curved channels m m in the frontportiomj, andout through apertures n n in the front 0 of the spindle.

I claim as my invention 1. In awire-fence machine, aslidingtensionbar and awinding-drum, in combination with a rotatable shaft connected with said tensionbar and drum, substantially as set forth, whereby the release of the tension and the winding of the drum are simultaneously effected.

2. In a wirefence machine, a sliding ten sion-bar, a winding-drum, and a swinging shuttle-frame, incombination with a rotatable shaft connected with said bar, drum, and frame, substantially as set forth, whereby the operations of said parts are simultaneously effected.

3. In a wire-fence machine, separate wireholding reels, awindingdrum, and wiretwisting spindles, in combination with a sliding tenarms, substantially as set forth.

Each reel is placed in sion-bar and separate tension devices, one for each spindle, located'on said sliding bar, substantially as set forth. v

4:. Two upright pivoted hook-catches and a rod connecting the same and pivoted to both, in combination with a spindle-rotating shaft and a pin carried by said shaft which engages alternately with said catches, substantially as winding-drum, catch-arms '0 apivoted to said cross-bar, and springs which hold said catcharms normally elevated, substantially as set forth.

8. In a wire-fence-machine, and in combination with the parts cooperating therewith, a roller, V, provided with circumferential grooves, substantially as set forth.

9. The tensionrstandards W, consisting of a base-plate, vertical side guides,c a, central vertical guide, Z, and top plate, in combination with tension-plates X X, provided with side grooves, b 1), adapted to said vertical guides 0'0 Z, and tension-regulating screws Y Y, substantially as set forth. s

.10. The cross-bar T and the catches pivoted thereto, in combination with the sliding tension-bar, the shuttle-frame, the windingdrum, the spring-pawl which admits of a slight backward movement of said drum, and. mechanism whereby said tension-bar and shuttleframe are simultaneouslyoperated, substantially as set forth.

11. The spindle 0, having enlarged front portion, 1', provided with curved channelsm m, and itsfront 0, having discharge-apertures n n, in combination with the removable cap is on the rearof said spindle, having receiving-apertures Z Z, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. V

JAMES FISK. Witnesses:

WILFRED AMBURN, V. A. RIBBLE.

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